Uncommon Measures: Using Teacher Portfolios in Educator Evaluation

In an effort to develop a balanced and valid system, states and districts increasingly have moved toward using multiple measures in educator evaluation. Certain measures, such as classroom observations and value-added models, are more commonly used or considered than others. To support innovation and build collective knowledge, this series provides guidance on alternative measures of teacher effectiveness and highlights district and state contexts where these methods are used.

This guidance document focuses on the use of teacher portfolios as an alternative measure, including background information on portfolios, information on their use in teacher evaluation systems, and recommendations, resources and references to support districts in their decision-making and implementation of this measure.